Medical Jurisprudence, Volume 3 (of 3)

by John Ayrton Paris; J. S. M. Fonblanque

Provided always, and be it Enacted, That no Person shall be admitted to any such Examination for a Certificate to practise as an Apothecary, unless he shall have served an Apprenticeship of not less than Five Years to an Apothecary, and unless he shall produce Testimonials to the satisfaction of the said Court of Examiners, of a sufficient Medical Education, and of a good moral conduct.

And be it further Enacted, That every Person intending to qualify himself under the regulations of this Act to practise as an Apothecary, in any part of England or Wales, shall give notice to the Clerk of the said Master, Wardens, and Society of Apothecaries as aforesaid, of his intention so to do, who shall notify the same to the said Master, Wardens, and Society of Apothecaries as aforesaid; and the Person so intending to qualify himself, shall present himself at the Meeting held by the said Court of Examiners next succeeding such Notice, and shall undergo such Examination by the said Court of Examiners as aforesaid, or at some other Meeting, as shall or may be appointed and fixed upon by the said Master, Wardens, and Society of Apothecaries, or by the said Court of Examiners, or the major part of them, as aforesaid, for that purpose.

And be it further Enacted, That from and after the First Day of August, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifteen, it shall not be lawful for any Person or Persons (except the Persons then acting as Assistants to any Apothecaries as aforesaid, and excepting Persons who have actually served an Apprenticeship of Five Years to an Apothecary) to act as an Assistant to any Apothecary, in compounding or dispensing Medicines, without undergoing an Examination by the said Court of Examiners, or the major part of them, or by Five Apothecaries, so to be appointed as hereinafter is mentioned, and obtaining a Certificate of his or their qualification to act as such Assistant, from the said Court of Examiners, or the major part of them, or from the said Five Apothecaries, who are hereby authorized and empowered to examine all persons applying to them for that purpose, and to grant a Certificate of such fitness and qualification.

And be it further Enacted, That for the purposes of this Act, it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Master and Wardens for the time being, or to and for the said Court of Examiners, by writing under their hands, from time to time to appoint Five Apothecaries in any County or Counties respectively throughout England and Wales (except within the said City of London, the Liberties or Suburbs thereof, or within Thirty Miles of the same), to act for such County or Counties, or any other County or Counties near or adjoining, and to remove or displace them from time to time, as they the said Master and Wardens, or the said Court of Examiners, shall deem adviseable; and such Five Apothecaries so to be appointed respectively, as aforesaid, at any Meeting to be held by them as hereinafter mentioned, shall have full power and authority, and are hereby authorized and empowered to examine, all Assistants to Apothecaries throughout the County or Counties in regard of which such Apothecaries shall have been so appointed as aforesaid, and to grant or refuse such Certificate to every such Assistant to Apothecaries, as hereinbefore is authorized in that behalf; and a Meeting of the said Apothecaries, for the purposes aforesaid, shall be held monthly in the County Town of some one of the Counties for which they shall have been appointed to act as aforesaid; and that no act of such Apothecaries shall be, or be deemed to be good or valid, unless the same be done at some such Meeting; and that all the Powers and Authorities by this Act granted to or vested in such Five Apothecaries, shall and may from time to time be exercised by the major part of them, who shall attend at any Meeting to be holden as above directed, the number of such Apothecaries present at any such Meeting not being less than Three; and all the Orders, Directions, and Certificates of the major part of such Apothecaries present at any such Meeting, shall have the same force and effect as if the same were made, done, or signed by all the said Five Apothecaries for the time being; and at every such Meeting of the said Apothecaries, a Chairman shall and may be appointed, and when, and so often as it shall so happen that there shall be an equal number of Votes upon any one question (including the Vote of the said Chairman) then and in such case, it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Chairman to give the casting, or decisive Vote.

And be it further Enacted, That the Sum of Ten Pounds Ten Shillings shall be paid to the said Master, Wardens, and Society of Apothecaries, for every such Certificate as aforesaid, on obtaining the same, by every person intending to practise as an Apothecary within the City of London, the Liberties or Suburbs thereof, or within Ten Miles of the same City; and the Sum of Six Pounds Six Shillings by every person intending to practise as an Apothecary in any other part of England or Wales (except the said City of London, the Liberties or Suburbs thereof, or within Ten Miles of the said City:) and no person having obtained a Certificate to practise as an Apothecary in any other part of England or Wales (except the said City of London, the Liberties or Suburbs thereof, or within Ten Miles of the said City as aforesaid), shall be entitled to practise within the said City of London, the Liberties or Suburbs thereof, or within Ten Miles of the said City, unless and until he shall have paid to the said Master, Wardens, and Society, the further Sum of Four Pounds Four Shillings, in addition to the said Sum of Six Pounds Six Shillings so paid by him as aforesaid, and shall have had endorsed on his said Certificate, a Receipt from the said Master, Wardens, and Society, for such additional Sum of Four Pounds Four Shillings; and the Sum of Two Pounds Two Shillings by every Assistant; and the several Sums of Money arising from the granting of such Certificates, shall be applied in manner hereinafter directed.

And be it further Enacted, That if any person (except such as are then actually practising as such) shall, after the said First Day of August, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifteen, act or practise as an Apothecary in any part of England or Wales, without having obtained such Certificate as aforesaid, every person so offending shall for every such Offence, forfeit and pay the Sum of Twenty Pounds; and if any person (except such as are then acting as such, and excepting persons who have actually served an Apprenticeship as aforesaid) shall, after the said First Day of August, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifteen, act as an Assistant to any Apothecary, to compound and dispense Medicines, without having obtained such Certificate as aforesaid, every person so offending, shall for every such offence forfeit and pay the Sum of Five Pounds.

And be it further Enacted, That no Apothecary shall be allowed to recover any Charges claimed by him in any Court of Law, unless such Apothecary shall prove on the Trial, that he was in practice as an Apothecary prior to, or on the said First Day of August, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifteen, or that he has obtained a Certificate to practise as an Apothecary, from the said Master, Wardens, and Society of Apothecaries as aforesaid.

Provided always, and be it further Enacted, That if the said Court of Examiners, or the major part of them, having examined any Person or Persons applying to qualify himself or themselves to practise as an Apothecary, or if they, or the said Five Apothecaries so to be appointed for any County or Counties as aforesaid, having examined any Person or Persons applying to qualify himself or themselves to practise as an Assistant to an Apothecary, in compounding and dispensing Medicines, shall see cause to refuse such Certificate as aforesaid, to any such Person or Persons so applying to qualify himself or themselves as an Apothecary or Assistant as aforesaid; yet it shall and may be lawful for such Person or Persons who shall be so refused, to apply at any future time to be again examined, so that such second application by any Person or Persons applying to qualify himself or themselves as an Apothecary, be not within Six Months of such first Examination; and so that such second application by any person or persons applying to qualify himself or themselves as an Assistant, be not within Three Months of such first Examination; and if on such re-examination he or they shall appear to the persons examining, to be then properly qualified, it shall and may be lawful for the said Court of Examiners, or to and for the said Five Apothecaries in any County or Counties as aforesaid, to grant such person or persons so applying, such Certificate as aforesaid.

Provided always, and be it further Enacted, That the said Master, Wardens, and Society of Apothecaries, do make annually, and cause to be printed, an exact List of all and every person who shall in that year have obtained a Certificate to practise as an Apothecary, with their respective residences attached to their respective Names.

And be it further Enacted, That all and every Sum or Sums of Money which shall be received or arise from the granting of the Certificate of Examination hereinbefore required, shall belong to, and be appropriated and disposed of by the said Master, Wardens, and Society of Apothecaries as aforesaid, in such manner as they shall from time to time direct and deem most expedient.